The Mayor and City Council request that all cell phones be turned off or set to vibrate. Members of the audience are requested to step outside the Council Chambers to respond or to conduct a phone conversation.

Those who wish to speak may fill out a form or email the City Secretary prior to the meeting.

BACKGROUND

In 2005, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, President George W. Bush established "National Code Compliance Month" in acknowledgement of the importance and impact that Code Enforcement has in its communities. All communities face struggles with vacant buildings, trash, tall grass and weeds, graffiti, inoperable vehicles, and much more. Code Enforcement provides the first line of defense in making sure that these issues are managed in a responsible and effective way. Effective Code Enforcement initiatives seek to achieve voluntary compliance as a means of avoiding other punitive methods of enforcement, while still accomplishing what is best for the community's health and safety. Improving and maintaining safety is the primary way that Code Enforcement Officers positively impact the city. Ordinances and codes are enacted for the good of the entire community. They take into consideration the safety and well-being of the public, and enforcement of these ordinances is essential to a good quality of life.

OVERVIEW

The City of Sachse is joining together with the American Association of Code Enforcement, the State of Texas, and the Nation in proclaiming the month of October 2023 as National Code Compliance Month and call upon municipalities and communities to join in recognizing and expressing their appreciation for the dedication and service of the individuals who serve as Code Enforcement Officers.

RECOMMENDATION

Present a proclamation to the City of Sachse, Neighborhood Services - Code Enforcement Division, proclaiming the month of October 2023 as National Code Compliance Month.

Ray Mendez, Neighborhood Services Manager, will be present to receive the proclamation.

BACKGROUND

Minutes from September 18, 2023, Council regular meeting.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve the September 18, 2023, regular meeting minutes.  

BACKGROUND

The Finance Department prepares a report each month to update the City Council regarding revenues and expenditures for the City. Included in the report are unaudited summaries for the General Fund, Utility Fund, Debt Service Fund, Sachse Economic Development Corporation, and the Sachse Municipal Development District, as well as a report of the year-to-date sales tax revenue.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

City Charter section 7.16(4) says the City Manager shall submit to the City Council each month a report covering revenues and expenditures of the City in such a form as requested by the City Council.

RECOMMENDATION

Accept the monthly revenue and expenditure report for the period ending August 31, 2023.

BACKGROUND

In the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget, the City Council approved funds for the purchase of books and library materials for the Sachse Public Library. Participating in purchasing cooperatives, such as the Texas SmartBuy Program, satisfies the state mandated procurement requirements.

OVERVIEW

These purchases were approved as a part of the FY 2023-2024 budget. All purchases of $50,000 and above must be approved by the City Council. 

The budgeted amount of $61,080.00 includes the cost of books and other library materials, materials processing costs, and shipping for the majority of the books and library materials purchased by the Sachse Public Library during FY 2023-2024. Through the Texas SmartBuy Program, materials purchased from Ingram Library Services receive a discount of 10%-47%, depending on format.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Authorize the purchase of books and library materials from Ingram Library Services through the Texas SmartBuy Program not to exceed the budgeted funds of Sixty-One Thousand and Eighty and 00/100 Dollars ($61,080.00) for the Sachse Public Library.

BACKGROUND

In the FY 2023-2024 budget, the City Council approved funds for the purchase of a 2024 F-550 Pipe Hunter Jet Truck for the Public Works Department through the Utility Fund.

OVERVIEW

This purchase was approved as part of the FY 2023-2024 budget. All purchases of $50,000 and above must be approved by the City Council. The budgeted amount for the vehicle is $291,354.00 (UF). The budgeted amounts for costs associated with the addition of a light bar, logos, and other miscellaneous outfitting of the vehicle is $3,000 bringing the total amount to $254,178.00. The requested amount is under the authorized budgeted amount. 

This vehicle will be purchased using previously authorized funds in the FY 2023-2024 budget. 

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Authorize the purchase of one (1) 2024 Ford F-550 Pipe Hunter Jet Truck from Rush Truck Centers of Texas through the Texas Local Government BuyBoard cooperative purchasing program (#601-19) not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty-Four Thousand, One Hundred Seventy-Eight and No/100 Dollars ($254,178.00) for the truck and outfitting for the City of Sachse Public Works Department.

BACKGROUND

The City of Sachse Public Works Department typically handles most water and sewer repairs in-house. Where scope and time require additional resources, staff utilizes local purchasing agreements to utilize established contractors and pricing. Currently, there are limited water valves and means to isolate sections of the water line in Pleasant Valley Road without putting a large number of residents out of service for repairs and routine maintenance. This is a major relocation project to add valves and provide better isolation when issues arise and will allow more efficient routine maintenance in the area.

OVERVIEW

Due to the scale and staffing required to make the repair and relocation at Pleasant Valley Place, staff recommends securing a contractor through an interlocal agreement with Grand Prairie. If staff were to do the repair, it would require the entire utility crew several days and those team members would be neglecting other needed operations during that time.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

It is the responsibility of the City of Sachse to maintain, upgrade, and improve public utilities as necessary in the City of Sachse. Chapter 791 of the Texas Government Code, also known as the Interlocal Cooperation Act, and Chapter 271.102 of the Texas Local Government Code, authorizes all local governments to contract with each other to perform governmental functions or services including administrative functions normally associated with the operation of government such as purchasing of necessary equipment, goods, and services. The City Council has approved the Master Interlocal Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with the City of Grand Prairie for the purchase of necessary equipment, goods, and services (Resolution No. 3360). Contract pricing from the City of Grand Prairie may be utilized by the City of Sachse for water and wastewater repair and replacement services.

RECOMMENDATION

Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a contract in the amount not to exceed Ninety Thousand, Three-Hundred Twenty and No/100 Dollars ($90,320.00) with North Texas Contracting, Inc. for water line repairs at Pleasant Valley Place.

BACKGROUND

In 2019, the City of Sachse restructured several items related to code enforcement. The division was moved from the Development Services department to the City Manager's Office and was renamed "Neighborhood Services" to reflect a more proactive enforcement approach and to reflect new neighborhood vitality strategies. Since that time, the division has expanded to include the traditional code enforcement duties; more neighborhood engagement programming, such as the "Community Tool Shed"; and more neighborhood vitality programming including the new rental registration program. The division also manages the City's contract with Community Waste Disposal, the solid waste and recycling provider for Sachse.

Ray Mendez, Neighborhood Services Manager, will provide an update on activities for the City Council and the public.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Receive an update from the City's Neighborhood Services division.  

BACKGROUND

Staff is bringing this item forward to discuss potential amendments to the sign regulations of the City.

The maintenance of existing ordinances is considered routine in order to provide a healthy and functioning regulatory framework that meets the needs of the community.

OVERVIEW

Staff has identified three areas for potential update:

• Refine wording and formatting to clarify and make more user-friendly;
• Relocation of sign regulations to the zoning ordinance for ease of use and to allow to be incorporated into Planned Development zoning requests; and
• Regulation amendments to address the following:
  • Changeable Electronic Variable Message Sign (CEVMS)
  • Political Signs
  • Billboards
  • Murals
  • Electric Vehicle Chargers

The ongoing maintenance of regulations and the streamlining of processes and provisions are identified as tasks in the City's 2017 Comprehensive Plan.

POLICY

Facilitating development within Sachse by enacting standards that align with state law and the vision established by the City's Comprehensive Plan.

Provide ongoing maintenance of City ordinances.

The current Sign Ordinance is available here: https://ecode360.com/39964942 

RECOMMENDATION

Discuss potential sign ordinance updates and provide direction to staff on sign ordinance amendments.